It happens every year: We’re bombarded with retail Christmas displays before Halloween – long before we’re in the holiday mood. Then, suddenly, December arrives, and you find yourself humming Christmas carols and dreaming of snow.

	in this article Entertaining ideas Potluck how-tos Cocktail party tips Decorating ideas inside outside Entertainment

If your house is like mine, the holidays tend to pass in a blur. One day we have nothing on the calendar, and the next we’re trying to fit in our own get-together's with the ones we’ve been invited to.

This year, keep your entertaining as simple as possible. Vow to spend more time with family and friends than in the kitchen. Read on for a few ideas to help make your holiday gatherings fun and memorable – for you and your guests.

Entertaining options

The holidays don’t have to mean hosting a formal dinner party. You could host a weekend brunch, or afternoon tea. Or don’t serve a meal at all. Plan your event based on the number of guests you plan to invite, and the type of party you want to have. Potlucks can be fun for small to medium-sized groups, cocktail parties for larger gatherings. For neighborly get-togethers, progressive dinner parties can be fun.

	Christmas memories Use a journal to record the details of your holiday parties: The friends who came, the food you served, the drinks you mixed. Or have guests sign a special holiday log. Another idea is to start a memory tablecloth: Use a white cloth, and buy green, red and gold fabric markers. Have each guest at your holiday party sign the cloth. Over the years, you’ll have a wonderful reminder of your holiday history.

The only rule during the holidays: Invite early. Calendars fill up quickly, and December weekends are the busiest social weekends of the year for most people. If schedules are too packed, consider holding your party at the end of November to kick off the holiday season, or at the beginning of January to celebrate the New Year.

Potluck how-tos

Potlucks are a great way to share the responsibility for feeding a group. But they aren’t quite as simple as they sound. Here are a few tips to ensure potluck success:

1. Assign dishes. To avoid having one of your guests arrive with a KFC popcorn chicken snack pack as his contribution for your 20-person party (this happened to me last year), send a list of courses (main dish, salad, dessert) with your invitation. When your guests RSVP, they can choose which item on the list they’d like to bring. Adapt expectations to the person: Ask non-cooks to bring rolls, or a store-bought veggie platter or dessert, and don’t assign the hors d’oeuvres to your chronically late friend. Closer to party time, send a confirmation e-mail to all guests listing what each is bringing.
   
   
2. Contribute at least one main dish yourself (Try chicken with our scotch marinade for something different). There’s no guarantee that everyone will a) arrive; and b) bring what they’re assigned. That way, even if your party happens during the first snow storm of the year and one of your guests is caught snowtire-less (this also happened to me last year), you’ll be out a side dish, not a main course.
   
   
3. Remind guests to bring serving utensils for their dishes (unless you have enough).
   
   
4. Set up the buffet table in advance. Ensure that there will be room for each dish, and include hot pads, potholders, serving utensils, cutlery and napkins. Empty your oven of whatever cooking paraphernalia it stores, in case guests need to heat their dishes. Set up the coffee maker, kettle and tea pot so you that all you have to do later is turn them on. Keep the after-dinner liqueurs close by so that guests can “customize” their coffee (see hot Cocktails for ideas).

	Hostess gift ideas A few offerings for when you’re the party guest Six or 12 jingle bell napkin rings (how-to) in a pretty box Holiday wine charms, purchased or made Holiday swizzle sticks A beautiful tree ornament (new or vintage) A custom-made gift basket A tin of homemade baking recipes

Cocktail party tips

Cocktail parties work well as “open houses” and for larger groups who may not know each other well. A few pointers:

1. Delegate. If you’re hosting a large party, consider hiring a caterer and/or bartender to mix drinks. Teenagers (even if they’re not yours) will often happily carry hors d’oeuvre trays for a few dollars an hour.

2. Buy what you need. Store-bought appetizers are virtually indistinguishable from homemade, and save you the trouble of actually wrapping bacon around several dozen scallops. Our Finger Foods section can help you estimate quantities, and provide a few easy-make nibbles. Try the Cognac Chip Dip or Sherry Spread.

3. Choose a cocktail theme or let your guests play bartender. Unless you want to refill drinks for the duration of the party, choose a cocktail (say, Martinis, Caesars, Gimlets, or cosmopolitans) and premix pitchers so guests can help themselves. Or, set up a stocked bar on a card table or buffet (see setting up your home bar) and let guests mix up their own concoctions. For some festive cocktail ideas, check out our holiday cocktail recipes.

4. Arrange your space strategically. Clear off some table space for guests to set down drinks and remove extra chairs to allow people to move around. Distribute appetizer trays evenly around the room, or keep them on one table – located on the opposite side of the room from the bar to avoid traffic jams.

5. Stock up on glasses. Borrow extras from friends, or rent them if necessary.

6. Don’t forget the non-drinkers: Have a festive punch on hand ( Schweppes festive punch recipe) to offer designated drivers and the younger set.

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